Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: tunnie on 09 February 2007, 22:03:16

Title: drove an Astra G today
Post by: tunnie on 09 February 2007, 22:03:16
painful experience....literally!

Mates grandad wanted to leave his car at our house to save money for car parking, he drove over to Heathrow and I drove it back. Went via Halfords on the way back, mate wanted some bits.

It was an '04 1.6, one of the very last old shape ones. He got a cracking deal on it apparently.

10 mins behind the wheel, and my back starting giving me serious pain! Even my m8, who is average height 5ft8... commented on his back in major pain too!

Was a nippy little thing, engine much quieter than mine, but then again is an '04 and done just 30k miles...

Felt very compact inside... and I had very poor leg room. Legs very close to the steering wheel.

But after a 15 min drive, my back was in agony!!  >:(

About 2 hours later jump in the megga to come back home..... god thats better so much more comfy, space, sound system, nearly 1hr 40 mins behind the wheel no problem, refreshed and no back pain.

My 2.2 maybe underpowered, but I am never swapping it for a smaller car!
Title: Re: drove an Astra G today
Post by: Markie on 09 February 2007, 22:31:22
got to say i liked the later model 1.8 elite my Dad had asa courtesy car.... :-/

dont know if i could live with it though...
Title: Re: drove an Astra G today
Post by: tunnie on 09 February 2007, 22:32:55
never driven the newer shapes, they do seam better. But still the seats are like rocks....
Title: Re: drove an Astra G today
Post by: Markie on 09 February 2007, 22:34:20
Quote
never driven the newer shapes, they do seam better. But still the seats are like rocks....

only drove it a short way and boy was the suspension hard.....seats were half leather....electric folding mirrors and rain sensitive wipers and so on and on ...
Title: Re: drove an Astra G today
Post by: tunnie on 09 February 2007, 22:41:40
i found the suspension ok.... a lot stiffer than the Omega which i noticed on round-bouts. Its the seats which done me in!
Title: Re: drove an Astra G today
Post by: Andy B on 09 February 2007, 22:54:17
Mrs B has a 1.6 16v Astra G. For its size I don't think it's a bad drive. We went up the Highlands of Scotland last year in it - I couldn't get a mortgage for the fuel for mine!  ;) & although it was nothing like the comfort of mine, I didn't think it faired too bad. You notice speed somewhat more in it too.
Title: Re: drove an Astra G today
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 10 February 2007, 19:26:50
Did you adjust the seat height, reach, lumbar etc.....

Did you adjust the steering wheel reach and rake?

Astra G was by far the best in class for driving position....if you set it up!

Suspension is to hard on them though (true of all the modern front wheel drive cars!)

Very well built and reliable motors though....
Title: Re: drove an Astra G today
Post by: TheBoy on 10 February 2007, 23:14:21
Quote
Very well built and reliable motors though....
Except my brothers 2 that I was looking at today  ::)
Title: Re: drove an Astra G today
Post by: TheBoy on 10 February 2007, 23:15:09
Astra-H has a better ride than Astra-G but suffers from build quality issues compared to older model...
Title: Re: drove an Astra G today
Post by: tunnie on 11 February 2007, 10:34:56
Quote
Did you adjust the seat height, reach, lumbar etc.....

Did you adjust the steering wheel reach and rake?

Astra G was by far the best in class for driving position....if you set it up!

Suspension is to hard on them though (true of all the modern front wheel drive cars!)

Very well built and reliable motors though....

Adjusted the steering column as high as possible for me, pumped the seat down to a good position. Adjusted the back angle of the seat, but found no lumbar adjustment??

It was the lower back which did me in, I also found the seats way to small.

That was its only down point, it was nippy and as you say well built down the crappy roads near uni no squeaks or rattles. Just needed some decent seats imo  :y
Title: Re: drove an Astra G today
Post by: AndersH on 11 February 2007, 22:27:17
I had a 1.8 CD as a company car, presume it was a G, Y reg? I had to drive with a wedge shaped cushion at the base of my back or I'd be in pain after half an hour or so. Was nippy though...